(Indianapolis) - After falling short of a championship again, Indiana Pacers President Larry Bird wrapped up the season with reporters Monday.

Bird says the Danny Granger trade was not the reason the team failed to advance further than last season. Bird says he talked with all the players and none of them expressed concern on trading Granger. He says Granger was not the "team leader" that many people thought he was, but Bird says he helped the team and led "in his own way."

Bird wishes the bench players had performed better this season and says he will meet with Head Coach Frank Vogel and General Manager Kevin Pritchard to see if they can improve the bench during the offseason.

Bird says the team is young and he doesn't want to make major changes, but he adds "we will see what's out there."

In other news...

Chicago's Joakim Noah won the NBA's defensive player of the year on Monday. Noah's Bulls' teammate Jimmy Butler was a 2nd team selection.

Pacers' star Paul George was a 1st team selection, with center Roy Hibbert named to the 2nd team.